Effect
of Barrel Length on the Velocity of .45 ACP Cartridges

The following information was provided by noted gunwriter Dean Speir, and
reproduced in The Complete Book of Autopistols Buyer's Guide 1998. It
compares the velocity of 20 different JHP-style defensive loadings in .45ACP across a wide
range of bullet weights in both standard and +p configurations. The comparison is
between a Glock 21 (4.60" polygonally rifled barrel) and a Glock 30 (3.78"
polygonally rifled barrel).

Ammo

G21

G30

diff.

Corbon 165gr BHP+p

1,160fps

1,096fps

-64fps

Federal 165gr Personal Defense

1,083fps

1,023fps

-60fps

Triton 165gr BHP +p

1,209fps

1,134fps

-75fps

Triton 165gr BHP "Lite"

1,044fps

999fps

-45fps

Federal 185gr JHP

954fps

904fps

-50fps

Remington 185gr JHP +p

1,054fps

1,021fps

-33fps

Remington 185gr Golden Saber

961fps

913fps

-48fps

Remington 185gr Golden Saber +p

1.040fps

993fps

-47fps

Triton 185gr JHP +p

1,097fps

1,067fps

-30fps

Winchester 185gr Silvertip

922fps

875fps

-47fps

CorBon 200gr JHP+p

1,072fps

1,019fps

-53fps

Speer 200gr "Flying Ashtray" JHP

988fps

907fps

-81fps

Triton 200gr JHP +p

1,091fps

1,041fps

-50fps

Black Hills 230gr JHP

939fps

884fps

-55fps

CorBon 230gr JHP +p

937fps

904fps

-33fps

Federal 230gr Hydra-Shok

919fps

860fps

-59fps

Hornady 230gr XTP-HP +p

943fps

886fps

-57fps

PMC 230gr StarFire

819fps

784fps

-35fps

Remington 230gr Golden Saber

852fps

825fps

-27fps

Winchester 230gr SXT

889fps

840fps

-49fps

Average loss (overall): 49.9fps

Average loss with standard-pressure ammunition: 50.1fps
Average loss with +p ammunition: 49.1fps

Average loss with 165gr ammunition: 61.0fps
Average loss with 185gr ammunition: 42.5fps
Average loss with 200gr ammunition: 61.3fps
Average loss with 230gr ammunition: 45.0fps